Hebrews 11:1-16

The Meaning of Faith

11Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2Indeed, by faith* our ancestors received approval.
3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.*

The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable* sacrifice than Cains. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith* he still speaks.
5By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. For it was attested before he was taken away that he had pleased God.
6And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

The Faith of Abraham

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.
9By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too oldand Sarah herself was barrenbecause he considered him faithful who had promised.*12Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,
14for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.
16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.